NO CLASS OCTOBER 14 - COLUMBUS DAY - LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED
Wednesday Oct 16, 2013
Class Plan
Review of some of the homework assignments. Why the Library is important to me? What is the meaning of Columbus Day? (See below) Let's Talk - see below Homework for next week
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF COLUMBUS DAY? Please Google Columbus Day, and be ready to talk about this Federal Holiday when you come to class on October 16.
The following is from Wikipedia: Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in theAmericas, which happened on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday. The landing is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many countries in Latin America, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain, as Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity) in Argentina, as Day of the Americas in Belize, and as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various areas since the early 20th century.
Let's Talk:
1. What did you do over the Columbus Day long weekend? 2. What does the Columbus Day holiday stand for? Is it a major American holiday? 3. Do you celebrate Columbus Day (or a similar holiday) in your own country? 4. Each country has its own special holidays. What's your favorite holiday? Why? 5. In the United States, many workers get a maximum of two weeks vacation every year. In other countries people get much more - as many as five weeks. How many weeks vacation do you think American workers should get each year?
HOMEWORK 1. Talk to your friends and family - ask them the questions above'
The great California gold rush began on January 24, 1848, when James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget in the American River while constructing a sawmill for John Sutter, a Sacramento farmer. News of Marshall’s discovery brought thousands of immigrants to California from elsewhere in the United States and from other countries.
The large influx of "'49ers," as the gold prospectors were known, caused California's population to increase suddenly. In San Francisco, for example, the population grew from 1,000 in 1848 to over 20,000 by 1850. California's overall population growth was so large that it became part of the Union as the 31st state in 1850—just two years after the United States had gained it from Mexico under the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War.
One of the migrations caused by the discovery of gold was the internal westward movement of Americans from the eastern states who wanted to make fortunes in California. At first, there were only two routes. The first required a six-month sea voyage from New York around the tip of South America to San Diego or San Francisco. Seasickness, bug-infested food, boredom, and the expense of the journey made this route unattractive for many would-be prospectors. The second route brought travelers over the Oregon-California Trail in covered wagons—over difficult terrain and hostile territory. This journey also averaged six months' duration. By 1850, the length and difficulty of both routes had inspired the construction of the Panama Railway, the world's first transcontinental railroad. Built across the isthmus of Panama by private American companies to speed travel to California, the railroad helped to shave months off of the long voyage around South America.
In addition to massive emigration from the eastern US, the California gold rush started a global emigration of ambitious fortune-seekers from China, Germany, Chile, Mexico, Ireland, Turkey, and France. The number of Chinese gold-seekers was very large, though many Chinese did not intend to settle in the United States, which they called "the Gold Mountain." Instead, they wanted to find as much gold as possible before returning to China—hopefully much richer than when they left. Because bandits often preyed on them and tried to steal their gold, the Chinese adopted the unique practice of melting down gold to make household goods, such as pots and other utensils, to disguise their wealth. Upon arrival home, they would re-melt their seemingly ordinary-looking items—usually covered in black soot to obscure their true nature—and recover their gold.
The number of Chinese and other foreign laborers led to tensions in California, especially as gold grew scarce. In 1850, the California legislature passed the Foreign Miners Tax, which levied a monthly $20 tax on each foreign miner. The tax compelled many Chinese to stop prospecting for gold. The Foreign Miners Tax was the opening act in a campaign by native-born white Americans to restrict the entry of Chinese laborers into California to compete with them for jobs and wages. In 1882, the campaign to restrict immigration to California reached its first climax with the federal Chinese Exclusion Act, which effectively halted Chinese immigration for ten years and prohibited Chinese from becoming US citizens.
Despite the ethnic tensions it engendered, the Gold Rush forever changed the demographic face of California by making it one of the most ethnically diverse states in the Union by the middle of the 19th century.
QUESTIONS
Who discovered the gold nugget, and where was it located?
Why were people who rushed to California called the “49ers”?
California was the __ state to join the Union. It was acquired by the United States from which other country?
There were two main routes from the eastern United States to California at the time. Describe one of these routes.
There was a very large influx of Chinese for the Gold Rush. What term did the Chinese use for the Gold Rush?
Chinese who came to California intended to immigrate and to stay in the United States. TRUE or FALSE?
The influx of immigrants to California led to gold becoming:
a. Scarce
b. Readily available
c. Cheaper and of less value
Describe the two major features of the Chinese Exclusion Act.
The Gold Rush is a major reason why California became so ethnically diverse. TRUE or FALSE.
New York is known as the Empire State. What is California know as? (Note: this is not in the text.)
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF COLUMBUS DAY? Please Google Columbus Day, and be ready to talk about this Federal Holiday when you come to class on October 16.
The following is from Wikipedia: Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in theAmericas, which happened on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday. The landing is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many countries in Latin America, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain, as Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity) in Argentina, as Day of the Americas in Belize, and as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various areas since the early 20th century.
Week 4
Monday Oct 14, 2013
COLUMBUS DAY
NO CLASS OCTOBER 14 - COLUMBUS DAY - LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED
Wednesday Oct 16, 2013
Class Plan
Review of some of the homework assignments.
Why the Library is important to me?
What is the meaning of Columbus Day? (See below)
Let's Talk - see below
Homework for next week
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF COLUMBUS DAY? Please Google Columbus Day, and be ready to talk about this Federal Holiday when you come to class on October 16.
The following is from Wikipedia:
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in theAmericas, which happened on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday. The landing is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many countries in Latin America, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain, as Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity) in Argentina, as Day of the Americas in Belize, and as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various areas since the early 20th century.
Let's Talk:
1. What did you do over the Columbus Day long weekend?
2. What does the Columbus Day holiday stand for? Is it a major American holiday?
3. Do you celebrate Columbus Day (or a similar holiday) in your own country?
4. Each country has its own special holidays. What's your favorite holiday? Why?
5. In the United States, many workers get a maximum of two weeks vacation every year. In other countries people get much more - as many as five weeks. How many weeks vacation do you think American workers should get each year?
HOMEWORK
1. Talk to your friends and family - ask them the questions above'
2. Study Grammar: Comparatives
3.Read about the GOLD RUSH and watch the following short video.
Reading:
California Gold Rush (1848–1858)
[Source: http://ocp.hul.harvard.edu/immigration/goldrush.html. Edited for ESL by Chris Milson, Oct 2013]
The great California gold rush began on January 24, 1848, when James W. Marshall discovered a gold nugget in the American River while constructing a sawmill for John Sutter, a Sacramento farmer. News of Marshall’s discovery brought thousands of immigrants to California from elsewhere in the United States and from other countries.
The large influx of "'49ers," as the gold prospectors were known, caused California's population to increase suddenly. In San Francisco, for example, the population grew from 1,000 in 1848 to over 20,000 by 1850. California's overall population growth was so large that it became part of the Union as the 31st state in 1850—just two years after the United States had gained it from Mexico under the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, which ended the Mexican-American War.
One of the migrations caused by the discovery of gold was the internal westward movement of Americans from the eastern states who wanted to make fortunes in California. At first, there were only two routes. The first required a six-month sea voyage from New York around the tip of South America to San Diego or San Francisco. Seasickness, bug-infested food, boredom, and the expense of the journey made this route unattractive for many would-be prospectors. The second route brought travelers over the Oregon-California Trail in covered wagons—over difficult terrain and hostile territory. This journey also averaged six months' duration. By 1850, the length and difficulty of both routes had inspired the construction of the Panama Railway, the world's first transcontinental railroad. Built across the isthmus of Panama by private American companies to speed travel to California, the railroad helped to shave months off of the long voyage around South America.
In addition to massive emigration from the eastern US, the California gold rush started a global emigration of ambitious fortune-seekers from China, Germany, Chile, Mexico, Ireland, Turkey, and France. The number of Chinese gold-seekers was very large, though many Chinese did not intend to settle in the United States, which they called "the Gold Mountain." Instead, they wanted to find as much gold as possible before returning to China—hopefully much richer than when they left. Because bandits often preyed on them and tried to steal their gold, the Chinese adopted the unique practice of melting down gold to make household goods, such as pots and other utensils, to disguise their wealth. Upon arrival home, they would re-melt their seemingly ordinary-looking items—usually covered in black soot to obscure their true nature—and recover their gold.
The number of Chinese and other foreign laborers led to tensions in California, especially as gold grew scarce. In 1850, the California legislature passed the Foreign Miners Tax, which levied a monthly $20 tax on each foreign miner. The tax compelled many Chinese to stop prospecting for gold. The Foreign Miners Tax was the opening act in a campaign by native-born white Americans to restrict the entry of Chinese laborers into California to compete with them for jobs and wages. In 1882, the campaign to restrict immigration to California reached its first climax with the federal Chinese Exclusion Act, which effectively halted Chinese immigration for ten years and prohibited Chinese from becoming US citizens.
Despite the ethnic tensions it engendered, the Gold Rush forever changed the demographic face of California by making it one of the most ethnically diverse states in the Union by the middle of the 19th century.
QUESTIONS
Video Links
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxekRM5-uMU (8 minutes)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r03DKbVhfvU (2.5 mins)
WHAT IS THE MEANING OF COLUMBUS DAY? Please Google Columbus Day, and be ready to talk about this Federal Holiday when you come to class on October 16.
The following is from Wikipedia:
Many countries in the New World and elsewhere celebrate the anniversary of Christopher Columbus' arrival in theAmericas, which happened on October 12, 1492, as an official holiday. The landing is celebrated as Columbus Day in the United States, as Día de la Raza in many countries in Latin America, as Discovery Day in the Bahamas, as Día de la Hispanidad and Fiesta Nacional in Spain, as Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Day of Respect for Cultural Diversity) in Argentina, as Day of the Americas in Belize, and as Día de las Américas (Day of the Americas) in Uruguay. These holidays have been celebrated unofficially since the late 18th century, and officially in various areas since the early 20th century.